Rotherham, England: A horrific report which exposed the failure of British authorities to prevent the sexual abuse of 1400 children has sparked a nation-wide row over race, religion, immigration and political correctness.

Some commentators expressed fear that racists would find ammunition in the report's findings, that put the blame for much of the abuse on a small group of British Asian men.

And tabloid newspaper editorials railed against the 'political correctness' of senior council workers who resisted attempts to investigate abuse claims, for fear it would be seen as racist.

Huge sex abuse scandal: a welcome to Rotherham sign seen at the entrance of the town. Photo: Getty

Members of Britain's Pakistani community have reacted with outrage amid reports officials failed to act on sex abuse cases because of concerns about racism in the northern English town of Rotherham.

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Muhbeen Hussain, founder of Rotherham Muslim Youth Group, told the Daily Mirror on Wednesday that Muslims are disgusted that justice was not done.

"Race, religion or political correctness should never provide a cloak of invisibility to such grotesque crimes."

Report author Alexis Jay cited appalling acts of violence between 1997 and 2013 in the town of some 250,000.

Charities that deal with abused children have expressed shock not just at the number of victims and by the apparent reluctance of authorities to address the question that people of Pakistani heritage were involved for fear they would be labelled racists.

Barnardo's, a charity that works with vulnerable children, unilaterally condemned the abuse that left so many to suffer for so long.

"No one should ever be frightened to act decisively because of fear of being seen as racist or politically incorrect," said Barnardo's chief executive, Javed Khan.

The string of child abuse victims in a northern English town have launched claims for compensation, lawyers say.

Fifteen girls abused by gangs of men in Rotherham are reportedly claiming up to STG100,000 ($A182,530) each.

Britain's Labour Party called for the resignation of the police commissioner in the town, a member of its own ranks, after the report found that "collective failures," led to inaction.

But Professor Jay said Rotherham is not the only place in Britain struggling with this issue. She told the BBC that "demand for this kind of sexual activity with children is on the increase and that is validated across not just the UK but Europe and worldwide."

"We can't say that Rotherham is any better or worse than other places because the information simply doesn't exist at a national level to tell us that," she said.

AP, AFP

A horrific report which exposed the failure of British authorities to prevent the sexual abuse of 1400 children has sparked a nation-wide row over race, religion, immigration and political correctness.

Some commentators expressed fear that racists would find ammunition in the report's findings, that put the blame for much of the abuse on a small group of British Asian men.

And tabloid newspaper editorials railed against the 'political correctness' of senior council workers who resisted attempts to investigate abuse claims, for fear it would be seen as racist.

A horrific report which exposed the failure of British authorities to prevent the sexual abuse of 1400 children has sparked a nation-wide row over race, religion, immigration and political correctness.

Some commentators expressed fear that racists would find ammunition in the report's findings, that put the blame for much of the abuse on a small group of British Asian men.

And tabloid newspaper editorials railed against the 'political correctness' of senior council workers who resisted attempts to investigate abuse claims, for fear it would be seen as racist.